Ottelia exserta (Ridl.) Dandy

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road No1 between No2 and No3, Gorongosa National Park

Photo: Bart Wursten
Sandforest loop, Gorongosa National Park

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Synonyms:	Boottia exserta Ridl. Boottia macrantha C.H. Wright Boottia mossambicensis Peter
Common names:
Frequency:	Locally common
Status:	Native
Description:	Aquatic herb, 20-50 cm high. Leaves submerged when young, floating or even erect above the surface of the water, more or less broadly ovate, 3.5-13.5 cm long, 1.5-2.5 times longer than wide, leathery with 5-7 prominent longitudinal veins; margin entire and smooth; petiole distinct, 9-45 cm long, triangular in cross-section. Inflorescences unisexual on different plants, rarely on the same plant. Male inflorescences with peduncle 6-47 cm long, spathes ovoid, oblong or lanceolate, 3.5-7.5 cm long, flattened, often 2-winged. Flowers 6-40 per spathe, 1-4 opening at the same time, pedicels exserted c. 4 cm above the spathe; sepals lanceolate, 8-12(-21) mm long, with darker veins and tips; petals obovate, white with cream or yellowish base. Female inflorescences with peduncle 16-20.5 cm long, spathes narrowly ovoid, 3-6 cm long, unwinged, grooved with c. 10 darker longitudinal stripes, smooth or with very small prickles. Flowers 1 per spathe, exserted 6-17 cm above the spathe; sepals oblong-lanceolate, 8-16(-23) mm long; petals obovate, white with yellowish base. Fruit spindle-shaped, 2.5-4 cm long.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	exserta: projecting, protruding
Habitat:	In swamps, pools, perennial pans, dams; also in wet mud of seasonal pans and in slow-flowing streams, mostly in water less than 50 cm deep.
Altitude range: (metres)	Up to 1000 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Namibia (Caprivi), Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,E,S
Growth form(s):	Aquatic.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Monday 11 August 2014
Literature:	Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 91. Symoens, J.J. (2009). Hydrocharitaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(2) Pages 32 - 35. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Ottelia exserta:

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Flora of Caprivi: Ottelia exserta
Flora of Malawi: Ottelia exserta
Flora of Mozambique: Ottelia exserta
Flora of Zambia: Ottelia exserta

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Ottelia exserta
African Plant Database: Ottelia exserta
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Ottelia exserta
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Ottelia exserta
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Ottelia exserta
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Ottelia exserta
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Ottelia exserta
JSTOR Plant Science: Ottelia exserta
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Ottelia exserta
Plants of the World Online: Ottelia exserta
Tropicos: Ottelia exserta
Wikipedia: Ottelia exserta